US child drowning deaths rise, AAP report urges layered safety measures

A new American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) report finds that drowning has become the leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 4 in the United States, with rates climbing since the COVID‑19 pandemic. In 2024, 1,075 children and adolescents under 20 died from unintentional drowning, including watercraft incidents.

The report, discussed with emergency physician Dr. Leana Wen, stresses that most of these tragedies are preventable through multiple layers of protection: constant supervision, swimming instruction, pool barriers, life jackets and strengthened water‑safety policies. It also corrects the common misconception that drowning is noisy, noting that victims often cannot call for help as they struggle to breathe.

Experts call on families, caregivers, health providers and policymakers to adopt these recommendations to reduce the silent but rising toll of child drownings in America.